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Words stuck in my mouth, my throat tight and my stomach suddenly full and heavy. I didn’t know how to respond to that, what to say. He was right. Marcus did deserve that, and he would do anything for the people he loved. “Even if he wanted more from me, what do I bring to the table? I’m too loud, too much, not responsible enough, and can barely take care of myself without depending on him, my old roommate, or my parents. I can’t give him anything.”
Corbin shrugged. “He wouldn’t want anything but you. Marcus doesn’t give a shit about that other stuff.”
“But I do…and he should. I want to be able to give him things too.”
“Then find another way to make it work with him. If you’re not willing to try, maybe I was wrong about you.”
Before I could respond, the sound of Marcus’s footsteps came from the stairs.
“Give me my phone before I skip work and hug you all day! You won’t be able to go anywhere without me attached to you!” Corbin pushed over the stool and ran at Marcus, who looked horrified.
“Fuck that shit.” He held the phone out to Corbin, both of them laughing before he kissed Corbin’s temple and said something quiet, only for the two of them.
Corbin nodded in return.
Marcus looked my way and winked before walking over and saying, “I couldn’t believe my bed was empty when I got out of the shower.” He wrapped his arms around me from behind and kissed my neck. He did it because he wanted to make sure I knew where I stood, that he wasn’t only giving affection to Corbin, which was sweet and totally Marcus.
“None of that, Dads.” Corbin gave us a mock-serious face.
“I’m making breakfast,” I said.
“I’m going to head out,” Corbin replied, which was when I noticed he wasn’t wearing the same thing he’d had on last night.
“He has clothes in the spare room,” Marcus answered, maybe seeing how I looked him up and down. Maybe he’d changed at some point in the middle of the night. Marcus turned to Corbin. “Eat, Kai is cooking.”
“I don’t know how you put up with his bossiness.” Corbin plunked down on the stool again.
“I’ll help you,” Marcus told me, but I waved it off. I knew he didn’t want to seem like he was saying I had to cook for them; but I’d just said I was, and he wanted Corbin to hang out for a bit first.
“It’s okay. I got it. I like making food for you.”
“Gag,” Corbin said. “But also maybe a little cute. I can’t believe I’m the last single member of The Vers. We should talk about how we’re going to split custody of Marcus, especially if you move to Atlanta. That’ll make things harder.”
“Corbin.” Marcus’s voice was stern.
“Bet you’re wishing you gave me my phone back last night so I left, huh?” he teased, the two of them going back and forth while I tried to work through what he’d said.
Was Corbin saying I shouldn’t leave, or that he thought Marcus should go with me? I nearly laughed at that. Why in the hell would Marcus leave all this behind for me? Corbin had no idea what he was talking about.
“Be good, boys,” I said, surprised I didn’t sound like I was hyperventilating because it felt that way.
Corbin immediately got into his phone, and Marcus made coffee while I started breakfast. Before I knew it, I’d blanked at the whole breakfast and Marcus was turning on the fish tank lights and pretending he wasn’t saying goodbye to the fish the way he always did. Blue had been back in the tank for a while now, living their best life.
“I’m outta here. I’ll see you guys later,” Corbin said. He gave me a quick hug, which I returned.
“Bye.”
Marcus was next, and then Corbin was gone and it was just the two of us. “Thanks for feeding him and being chill with everything.”
“How are you going to reward me?” I flirted, watching lust make his jaw twitch.
“I’ll come to Driftwood tonight and fuck you in the bar. I know how much that turns you on.”
I trembled. It really fucking did. “Deal.” I winked. Marcus kissed me, and then he was gone too. I stood in the kitchen, trying to figure out what the fuck had happened in my life and what I was going to do about it.
* * *
I spent the whole day thinking about what Corbin had said, and how he seemed to think Marcus felt about me, and the fact that I really fucking liked Marcus, but I was leaving him, not fighting for him. But staying made me feel like I wasn’t fighting for myself either. It was all confusing as fuck.
“You okay? You seem a little off tonight,” Declan said, making me realize I was standing behind the bar, spacing out.
